Finally in the advertisingsection we see Nike as anIcon for safety razors.(Gallery: last image)

Nike and War

NIKE AND WAR

NIKE AND WAR

World War one in Europe smashed up a generation. The deep humanneed to recognise this event and to memorialise the fallen led us to adaptNike into the role of an 'Angel of Victory'.

Symbols are very powerful in achieving this, especially a universal symbol ofvictory, one utmost associated with struggle and war, and later on as asymbol of peace.

In the united Kingdom and indeed worldwide, the history of the struggle for victory in Europeduring the first world war is deep within the psyche of man. No more so than the poets andwriters as well as the common men who found themselves in bloody trench conflict for four years.

War memorials have an ancient pedigree, indeed one of the most famous in history comes formHellas. The Greek victory over the Persians at the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC set astandard that we have inherited today, especially to commemorate armed conflict.

That we should turn to the world of classical antiquity to symbolise and confirm Victory, tocommemorate the dead and console us for our lost and wounded says a lot about humanity.

That we adopted Nike as a symbol of victory and later as the feminine icon of peace is astonishing.Nike's image was by now adapted into Christianity. But also separate from it historically. Nike nowhad a dual nature, one as the symbol of victory in war. Secondly in Christian iconography asa heaven sent ministering angel of peace over the glorious dead and wounded.

Throughout the UK you will find Nike represented as a symbol of Victory. Also as anAngel of peace. Towns and villages from Chichester to Manchester. World wide - Canada,the USA - as well as central Europe have all erected statues of Nike on memorialsto commemorate those lost in conflict. Our gallery below is a selection of war memorialsin the United Kingdom.

Nike is still with us - from over two and a half millenia ago shows how important a role she still hasin the life of humanity, and will always have to us.